1965 Finals Game 7 Russell Rebounds vs Lakers

Lore & Background

In the 1965 NBA Finals, the Celtics faced the Lakers and won the series. The Celtics' victory in 1965 gave them their seventh consecutive NBA championship, not their sixth.

In Their Own Story

The air in the Garden was heavy, smelling of sweat and polished wood as the fourth quarter wound down. Bill Russell, his jersey soaked through, watched Elgin Baylor drive toward the basket. With a leap that seemed to defy gravity, Russell met him at the apex, tipping the ball away with a thunderous block. The crowd roared, but Russell didn't celebrate; he immediately dove for the loose ball, securing it with a grip of iron. He passed it upcourt, eyes locked on the rim, knowing this was the moment that would define another year of dynasty.

Reader's Guide

The 1965 Finals were part of the Celtics' dynasty in the 1960s, where they won the finals every year except 1967. The Lakers were the Celtics' opponent in six Finals series that decade: 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, and 1969, with the Celtics winning all of those match-ups.

Did You Know?

• The Celtics won eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966, the longest streak in North American professional sports.
• The 1965 Finals were one of six Celtics-Lakers Finals meetings in the 1960s, all won by Boston.